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It’s not often we can point at somebody’s faults and not feel guilty about doing so. Such is the case when talking about former Laker Mark Madsen’s victory parade moment when he not only gave validation to the claim that “white men can’t dance,” but gave a shout out to the Hispanic community in screaching style.

Yesterday, as the Lakers and Los Angeles celebrated the franchise’s 15th NBA Championship, EVERYONE was waiting for that “Mark Madsen moment.” As near as I can tell, it never came. The moment is preserved in historic nerd perspective and the loveable Madsen lives to write about it…as he did in today’s guest column in the LA Times.

Just as awkward as his parade moment…but good and funny!

Madsen writes…

I started getting nervous because that wasn’t what I’d planned for. But Shaq’s so funny. He was always coming up with stuff, sayings, like, “L.A. is the new capital of California, not Sacramento.” It was awesome.

As for my speech, I just wanted it to go quickly. Then all of a sudden, I hear Shaq off to the side saying: “Who let the dogs out?” Shaq is smart and funny and if he said it, I knew it would go over well.

And there was support from the Latino community and we wanted to acknowledge that. I saw our broadcasters and thought, “Hey, I know how to say a few things in Spanish. So why not?”

Yes, this is a Top 10 list, but to find the number one thing not to do after a Lakers championship win you’ll have to visit today’s Offbeat column at LA Church and State Examiner. Thanks for the additional click! Don’t worry, there are no strings attached…it’s just a way of support!

Night and Day
Reaction to today’s California Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8 was on both sides of the spectrum.

The Yes on 8 campaign released a statement that began: California voters won a major victory today as the California Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold Proposition 8 and leave the definition of traditional marriage in California’s constitution as decided by voters in the November, 2008 election.

However, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had a different take on today’s decision.

“This is a dark day, a dark day in California,” Villaraigosa said. “We are going to keep on working. We’re going to have a conversation in this state about restoring gay marriage.”

After careful review, the pictures taken were “fine,” and that while some were indeed risque, many were in fact “quite lovely.” — Donald Trump, on keeping Carrie Prejean as the reigning Miss California.
Trump lets Miss California keep state crown

…Trump praised Prejean for her “honest answer” when she was asked a “very tough question,” noting that it was the same answer that President Obama has given…

Well, if the outcome of California’s Prop 8 vote could be used as an indicator, Miss California Carrie Prejean, a supporter of traditional marriage, would stay as the state’s reigning queen… but not by a wide margin.

However, the final decision will be up to Mr. Donald “You’re Fired!” Trump. There are “things to look at,” but, “hopefully it will be a positive decision,” he said to Fox News.

Beauty pageant or not, the fact that Miss California may actually lose her state title illustrates the possible serious repercussions of having an anti-gay marriage stance. People have already lost jobs for supporting a Yes vote on Prop 8. Intolerant gay activists have targeted individuals and businesses in extremely harmful ways.

Yes, the Miss California USA title is a paid position in terms of endorsements, compensation, benefits, allowances, etc. Whether you consider beauty pageants as legitimate enterprises or not, losing one’s job is serious.

Karen England, Executive Director of CRI, issued a strong warning to parents that school administrators are implenting policy on sexual orientation issues without notifying parents.

“Opponents of Prop 8 claimed that legalizing same-sex marriage would have no impact on school curriculum. But this proves that even with the traditional definition of marriage in the constitution, school curriculum uses a false definition. Homosexual activists lost at the ballot box, but now they are using schools to re-define marriage–while excluding parents,” England said in the report… MORE

Uppity-ups in the Republican party also tell me Prejean definitely will be approached by some arm of theirs, though whether she’ll be game is another story. She may be too busy suing Donald Trump or (possibly) dating Michael Phelps to participate…

Gornstein, you obviously missed the part where Prejean said she will be praying for Perez Hilton and that she feels sorry for him. Hardly the opening salvo of an impending lawsuit. Phelps? I don’t get it. You must be striving for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)… or throwing in the bong factor.

Sorry, Gornstein, this particular blond is already a success story. No amount of dumb-beauty-queens-don’t-ever-make-it spin you give your readers will stick to this woman.

Is she the new Joe the Plumber? Please attempt giving this beautiful, intelligent woman some respect. It would be the right thing to do!